Can anyone tell me the value of a U.S.Springfield Model 1873 trapdoor rifle 45-70 cal. in good firing cond.?

Answer 1

The most accurate way to price your rifle is to go to these sites and see what yours has been selling for...The Blue Book of Gun Values is fine "if" you want last years price(when book was printed)

http://www.gunbroker.com
http://www.gunsamerica.com

use the search features...take a minute and sign up on GB(password-username) then you can use the member search "going going gone" where you can search your rifles sales for the past 90 days

later:

I just ran the search for your 1873 Springfield on GB...Quite a few have sold in the past 90 days, you should be able to get a good idea of your rifles value...Match the condition of your rifle to those sold....If, you're seriously considering selling your rifle I would have an expert take a look at it, a very small difference can mean hundreds of dollars in value...

Answer 2

The ORIGINAL load for the 1873 Trapdoor Springfield employed 55 grains of FFg black powder. These guns weren't the strongest actions made. In the 1970s Harrington and Richardson introduced replicas of the 1873 Trapdoor Springfield. In those days the ONLY .45-70 load available was a smokelss powder equivalent that lobbed a 405 grain bullet at around 1,330 feet per second muzzle velocity. These produced breech pressures in the vicinity of 25,000 CUP or thereabouts and were considered safe for use in the Trapdoor Springfield. The modern loads that are loaded with a 300 grain bullet and have a muzzle velocity of around 1,900 feet per second. These loads produce pressures that are too high for use in the Springfield. If your rifle is origianl, I would hestiate to shoot it, unless you have it checked by a gunsmith.. Those rifles haven't been made in 119 years

Answer 3

Springfield Model 1873

Answer 4

Listen to Bound's advice.

All you can here is a general idea. You could have an exceptionally rare model of condition which would make it worth tens of thousands of dollars. Or a common, well used one that's worth several hundred.

Whatever you do, DO NOT SHOOT THAT RIFLE.....until you have talked with an expert gunsmith and have the correct loads.

Modern 45-70 cartridges could blow that rifle up in your face. It was made before modern "high-pressure" cartridges were developed and it was probably not hardened like modern firearms.

Answer 5

Bound's hubby here:

Seeking an appraisal on-line, sight unseen, is like having an on-line root canal ... it just can't be done.

You need to take your rifle to a gunsmith or an appraiser and have it appraised. Degree of finish, condition of metal, barrel, and stock, barrel length, and model variation all come into play. If you want an actual value, say for insurance purposes, get an appraisal ... otherwise, you will have only a range of prices that your particular rifle may or may not fall into!

Good luck!

Answer 6

For the best answers, search on this site https://shorturl.im/awkui

Only if they are loaded to original pressure specs should you fire them in an original trapdoor 73.

Answer 7

I want one so bad, the two other guys gave good advice. I would offer to buy it, but I just paid for 3 kids in college.




Brother can you spare a dime.